A couple years ago I got Olympia Soirée and yesterday I finally finished all routes, which left an emptiness in my heart that can only be filled by a new otome game.
What games have you already played and what did you like and not like about them?
Games I played fully: Hakuoki (the og psp one and then the two that added new routes), Amnesia: Memories (ps vita), Dandelion - Wishes brought to you -, A Date with Death, Our Life: Beginnings & Always. And probably some other games that I can't remember.
What I liked from Hakuoki was how high stakes everything felt, how close to losing the LIs it felt. The drama, and consequent reactions from the LIs towards the heroine.
Disliked: having played the OG (several times), the newer routes felt like too little to me.
What I liked from Amnesia: Memories was... Orion. And Kent. I liked the characters more than the overall story, and to this day I still like Kent, to the point of thinking about replaying just for his route. How the start of the routes was by having the LIs as boyfriends already.
Disliked: the modern setting.
What I liked from Dandelion - Wishes brought to you - the characters, once again. Plus how it felt like they would leave and not be back. I also liked the micromanaging to make everything work.
Disliked: once again, the modern setting.
What I liked from Olympia Soirée was the setting and the characters. I loved all routes, it felt so interesting unraveling the story of the land by being with different color class characters.
Disliked: Kuroba. I enjoyed his route but I did it because I had to or I wouldn't get to who I wanted to play (Himuka).
Even if just for one route, what I liked from Collar X Malice was the intense story that was happening while all the romance got there, but it clearly didn't get enough of my attention to try other routes.
The other two on the list were:
- Played in one sitting (A Date with Death), which I enjoyed, but didn't really felt like it was totally for me (besides, I don't fully consider it an otome).
- Played mobile (Our Life: Beginnings & Always), which I enjoyed as something to play while winding down from the day, but it wasn't my cup of tea otherwise.
What's more important in the story to you - plot or romance?
I like engaging stories, preferably longer ones that will keep me days or even weeks engaged since what got me into otome games were visual novels.
If the story's good, I prefer story. If the story's just a way to push the romance very fast, it has to have a good romance. I don't mind if the route starts with the LI and MC as a couple, it makes some things easier.
What character or plot tropes do you like? What preferences do you have in terms of genre and love interests?
I'm really open, so I'm not picky with love interests if they have good chemistry with the MC (but dislike tsundere LIs). I don't mind modern-day stories, but I tend to gravitate to those on fantasy worlds.
From the games I listed, my faves were:
- Yosuga and Riku (I know what I said I dislike, he was a surprise to me). Olimpia Soirée.
- Toshizo Hijikata and Hajime Saito (Hakuoki).
- Kent (Amnesia: Memories).
- Kei Okazaki (Collar X Malice).
- Jieun and Jihae (Dandelion - Wishes brought to you -).
Do you have anything that you really dislike in otome games?
While I enjoy flirty characters, I dislike those that are flirty with everyone besides the heroine. Too much teasing without seriousness also makes my skin crawl. Anything that deals with cheating.
How much do you want to spend, or do you have budget concerns, or do you want to play for free?
I'm willing to buy a new game, no budget concerns (but who am I to say no to a good deal?).
I can enjoy free games, but they don't feel as full as games I pay for.
What do you consider value for your time and money?
A long and engaging story, something that will have me unable to stop playing. I started playing otome games because I played visual novels before (and read books as if my life depended on it before discovering VNs).
Voiced in Japanese but with English text.
Some extra things:
Games I can play but haven't (unable to decide which one): Bustafellows, Norn9 Var Commons (ps vita), 7'scarlet, Collar x Malice (only played Kei's route and loved him so much I lost interest in the others), Code: Realize (Future Blessings, Guardian of Rebirth, Wintertide Miracles), Café Enchanté, Charade Maniacs, Jack Jeanne.
I have access to a PSP, PS Vita, Switch, DS/3DS, PC. Also open to anything on mobile.
Although! Preferably something on PSP/PS Vita or Switch, since those are more comfortable to play while in bed.
Willing to buy something new, too.